Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used in construction and manufacturing for centuries. It is highly durable, resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals, and has excellent insulating properties. Therefore, it has been used to make a wide range of building materials and products, including:

• Roofing materials and shingles
• Siding and cement board
• Insulation for pipes, ducts, and walls
• Flooring and ceiling tiles
• Textured paints and coatings
• Brakes and clutch pads in cars and trucks
• Gaskets and packing materials

However, despite its many benefits and widespread use, asbestos is also highly hazardous to human health. When asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are disturbed, cut, drilled, sanded, or broken, they release tiny, invisible fibers into the air that can be inhaled or ingested. These fibers can penetrate deep into the lungs, throat, and digestive system and cause a range of serious and often fatal diseases, including:

• Asbestosis: a chronic lung disease that results from the scarring and hardening of lung tissue due to asbestos exposure.
• Mesothelioma: a rare and aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart and is caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure.
• Lung cancer: a common and deadly form of cancer that can be caused or aggravated by asbestos exposure.
• Other respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema.

Asbestos-related diseases can take years or even decades to develop and often have no cure or effective treatment. Therefore, the only way to prevent them is to avoid exposure to asbestos fibers.